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Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Zinc Ferrite Nanocomposites for Degrading Methylene Blue: Effect of Nickel Doping Concentration

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Abstract

In the present work, undoped and nickel doped zinc ferrite (ZnFe2−xNixO4) nano-composites were synthesized using a facile auto-combustion method using glycine as fuel. Effects of Ni dopant concentration and annealing process on structural and morphological properties were investigated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The formation of cubic spinel ferrites is confirmed by XRD analysis while asserting particles with a size range of 55–58 nm. Analysis of Raman spectra showed a transition of normal to inverse spinel-type with the increase in Ni content. Photocatalytic studies of as-synthesized nanoparticles using methylene blue (MB) demonstrated a strong correlation between photocatalytic efficiency and Ni doping. Ni-doped zinc-ferrites exhibited 98% photocatalytic efficiency at an optimum Ni doping concentration of 30%. As-synthesized ferrites have the potential to be used as an efficient, reusable, and magnetically removable photocatalyst system for removing organic pollutants.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the directorate general of scientific research and technological development DGRSDT of Algeria. The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the University of Sharjah (Targeted Project Grant No. 2102143096).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exact Sciences, University of El-Oued Echahid Hamma Lakhdar, 39000, El-Oued, Algeria

    Jannat Hammouche

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry and Environment, University of Biskra Mohamed Khider, 07000, Biskra, Algeria

    Jannat Hammouche & M. Omari

  3. Department of Applied Physics and Astronomy, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE

    M. Gaidi

  4. Centre for Advanced Materials Research, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, P. O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    M. Gaidi

  5. Laboratoire de Photovoltaïque, Centre de Recherches et des Technologies de l’Energie, Technopole de Borj-Cédria, BP 95, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    M. Gaidi & S. Columbus

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  1. Jannat Hammouche
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  2. M. Gaidi
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Correspondence to Jannat Hammouche.

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Hammouche, J., Gaidi, M., Columbus, S. et al. Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Zinc Ferrite Nanocomposites for Degrading Methylene Blue: Effect of Nickel Doping Concentration. J Inorg Organomet Polym 31, 3496–3504 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-021-01960-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-021-01960-z

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